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Final Fantasy question: where to begin?
I was chatting with a friend about my Final Fantasy X replay (about which more at another time), and she expressed an interest in the series but was wondering where to start -- which makes sense, it's a huge series with no clear starting point since so many of the games stand alone. I have my own thoughts on this subject, of course, but I wonder what the rest of you think.
So here's the question: if you were to rec one and only one Final Fantasy game to someone who has never played anything in the series, which game would it be and why?
On balance, I think I would lean toward FFX, because of the depth of its story, world, and characters, with the caveat that they shouldn't expect the graphics and voice acting to be up to current standards. Although if I knew the player was a big fan of epic fantasy, I might rec FFIX instead, or if they loved political intrigue, I might suggest FFXII. So those are my picks, but then I've never finished FFVI, and my meh-ness toward FFVII is well known.
Update, Tuesday evening: it turns out that my friend doesn't have access to most of the platforms that have FF games made for them, so this discussion is mostly theoretical, alas. But thanks, still, for weighing in, and feel free to keep commenting! It's still an interesting topic and I've enjoyed seeing what everyone has to say.
So here's the question: if you were to rec one and only one Final Fantasy game to someone who has never played anything in the series, which game would it be and why?
On balance, I think I would lean toward FFX, because of the depth of its story, world, and characters, with the caveat that they shouldn't expect the graphics and voice acting to be up to current standards. Although if I knew the player was a big fan of epic fantasy, I might rec FFIX instead, or if they loved political intrigue, I might suggest FFXII. So those are my picks, but then I've never finished FFVI, and my meh-ness toward FFVII is well known.
Update, Tuesday evening: it turns out that my friend doesn't have access to most of the platforms that have FF games made for them, so this discussion is mostly theoretical, alas. But thanks, still, for weighing in, and feel free to keep commenting! It's still an interesting topic and I've enjoyed seeing what everyone has to say.
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I think it is better to ask your friend about what matters most to her.
- A portable game that is smaller in scope or a sweeping epic that is best viewed on a TV?
- Cutting edge graphics and voice acting or an old school RPG?
- A story that features love and friendship as central to the plot or a story that features political intrigue?
- A story that delivers a fantasy experience or a story that deconstructs the fantasy hero (FFVII) or deconstructs the fantasy (FFXII).
- A story that is well contained in one game or a story that is part of a series?
etc.
Edited to add: Also, the kind of battle system and game play style could influence how much she gets into the game. As much as I love the earlier games, the battles now feel a bit tedious to me because I'm used to a different style of play. I have to be in the right mind set to enjoy them, although I *do* enjoy replaying the really old FFs. On the flip side, even in new games like FFXIII, the battles can feel extremely tedious especially when they are unavoidable whereas FFXII allows you to avoid some random encounters. But, games like FFXII require the player to be interested in a more thinky, challenging tactical RPG style of play whereas FFX battles are also engaging due to tactics but the battles are very easy because of how the game lets you switch your party members in and out.
Edited again: OOH! Forgot to add this: What other elements in a game does she like? The puzzles in FFX are my favorite part of that game (wish those puzzles were in all of the later FF games) but some people dislike puzzles. The card game in FFVIII is so addictive that people thought I had purchased FinalFantasy: Triple Triad. I disliked the minigames in FFVII but I know people who love those arcade style racing games.
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I agree that a lot depends on exactly what someone is looking for in a game.
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Re Yuna: http://vieralynn.livejournal.com/27131.html?thread=175099#t175099
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I am probably the only person in history who didn't care for Triple Triad and loved Sphere Break :)
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Mini-games: I like how the FF series tried out so many different kinds of mini games. Not everyone will like all of them, but at least there is something for everyone across the entire series.
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